One of President Obama's best friends — have been subpoenaed by a federal grand jury

While details are few, E-mails and other records of Obama Friend Dr. Eric Whitaker have been subpoenaed by a federal grand jury

The investigation involves “faith-based initiatives” and health-awareness campaigns funded by the Illinois Department of Public Health when Whitaker ran the agency for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, according to copies of subpoenas obtained under the state’s Freedom of Information Act.

Obama has said he recommended Whitaker for that job, which Whitaker landed in April 2003. The president’s friend resigned in October 2007 to join Obama’s wife, Michelle, as an executive at the University of Chicago Medical Center.

On Friday, Whitaker defended his work as the state’s former top health official, saying he developed “new methods” to help “African-American and other minority communities” get better medical care.

“The faith-based outreach programs at issue in this inquiry were recognized during my tenure by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and others as national models for increasing awareness and preparedness planning for minority populations,” Whitaker said in a statement. “The programs were functioning well when I left the department in 2007.”

All told, Gov. Quinn’s administration turned over copies of six subpoenas sent to four state agencies that show authorities have been seeking information about a variety of health-awareness grants and programs that have cost taxpayers millions of dollars.

One sent to the health department seeks “any and all records” involving “faith-based initiatives” on subjects including “emergency preparedness,” “HIV/AIDS,” “cervical/breast cancer” and “pandemic flu” (see sidebar).

Here are some of the organizations named in recent federal grand jury subpoenas sent to four state agencies. All started getting state funding when Dr. Eric Whitaker headed the Illinois Department of Public Health.

• Brothers and Sisters United Against HIV/AIDS (BASUAH): A $2.5 million “social marketing effort” announced by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich and Whitaker in September 2005 to fight AIDS in the African-American community. BASUAH was run by the health department, which a spokeswoman says is “fully cooperating with the subpoenas.”

• Let’s Talk, Let’s Test Foundation: AIDS-awareness group founded by state Rep. Connie Howard (D-Chicago) that has gotten more than $1.9 million in state money since 2006, including $1.2 million from the health department and $500,000 from the commerce department. State officials now are trying to recoup hundreds of thousands of dollars from the defunct not-for-profit, claiming the money was improperly spent. Its former executive director, Lloyd Kelly, couldn’t be reached.

• National Black Nurses’ Association, Chicago Chapter: Nursing group that puts on health fairs and sponsors scholarships has received more than $905,000 in state money since 2006, including more than $391,000 from the health department. The group didn’t return a message seeking comment.

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Albert Milliron is the founder of Politisite. Milliron has been credentialed by most major news networks for Presidential debates and major Political Parties for political event coverage. Albert maintains relationships with the White House and State Department to provide direct reporting from the Administration’s Press team. Albert is the former Public Relations Chairman of the Columbia County Republican Party in Georgia. He is a former Delegate.
Milliron is a veteran of the US Army Medical Department and worked for Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Psychiatry.